On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:55:21 +0100, Brianna Laugher brianna.laugher@gmail.com wrote:
Hello,
Just writing to let folks know that on Commons we are developing some Javascript that add form elements to the upload page, instead of asking the user to use a template, to "fake" structured data. If the user doesn't have Javascript, it defaults to the plain normal form.
It could be considered a model of what we would like the upload form to look like one day.
Just flagging it here in case there are any performance-related things we should take into consideration.
Demo (you need to be logged in at Commons): http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Upload?withJS=MediaWiki:UploadForm.js
Demo combing uselang hack: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Upload?withJS=MediaWiki:UploadForm.js&uselang=ownwork
The JS is here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki:UploadForm.js
(FYI, the add-category functionality is here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki:Gadget-HotCat.js )
I think it's a good idea. Performance (for the servers) should not be an issue since all the JavaScript is executed on the client side (as long as it doesn't fire off hundreds of http requests in the background at least).
I have been toying with a simmilar idea on the English Wikipedia though instead of adding some extra fields I was thinkling more along the lines of replacing the default form entierly and put a interactive multi step "wizard" in it's place (if you choose to upload a non-free image it would ask you to assert that no free replacement can be created and explain why, force you to add a rationale etc). Never got past the "that would be neat" thinking about it phase though.